Compositions of functional mitochondria and uses thereof

Abstract

Mitochondrial compositions and therapeutic methods of using same. Compositions of partially purified functional mitochondria and methods of using the compositions to treat conditions which benefit from increased mitochondrial function by administering the compositions to a subject in need thereof.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A pharmaceutical composition comprising:
 a plurality of partially purified functional human mitochondria that have undergone a freeze-thaw cycle, the plurality of partially purified functional human mitochondria having an oxygen consumption rate comparable to or higher than that of control mitochondria that have not undergone a freeze-thaw cycle, the partially purified functional human mitochondria having an intact outer membrane; and 
 sucrose in an amount sufficient to preserve mitochondrial function, 
 wherein the total amount of mitochondrial proteins is between 20%-80% of the total amount of cellular proteins within said composition, and 
 wherein the composition is devoid of exogenous protease inhibitors. 
 
     
     
       2. The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 1 , wherein said partially purified functional mitochondria are derived from a cell or a tissue selected from the group consisting of placenta, placental cells grown in culture and blood cells. 
     
     
       3. The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 1 , further comprising a buffer, the buffer being the same type of buffer as an isolation buffer used to isolate said partially purified functional mitochondria. 
     
     
       4. The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 1 , wherein said partially purified functional mitochondria are reduced in size by exposure to an ion-exchanger inhibitor. 
     
     
       5. The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 1 , wherein said freeze-thaw cycle comprises freezing said partially purified functional mitochondria for at least 24 hours prior to thawing. 
     
     
       6. The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 1 , wherein the total amount of mitochondrial proteins is between 20%-50% of the total amount of cellular proteins within said composition. 
     
     
       7. The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 1 , wherein said freeze-thaw cycle comprises freezing said partially purified functional mitochondria within a freezing buffer, said freezing buffer comprising a saccharide. 
     
     
       8. The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 7 , wherein said saccharide is sucrose. 
     
     
       9. A pharmaceutical composition comprising:
 a plurality of isolated functional human mitochondria that have undergone a freeze-thaw cycle, the plurality of isolated functional human mitochondria having an oxygen consumption rate comparable to or higher than that of control mitochondria that have not undergone a freeze-thaw cycle, the isolated functional human mitochondria having an intact outer membrane, and 
 sucrose in an amount sufficient to preserve mitochondrial function, 
 wherein the weight of the mitochondria constitutes more than 80% of the combined weight of the mitochondria and other sub-cellular fractions, and wherein the composition is devoid of exogenous protease inhibitors.